Man this week's All Stars really blew, am I right? You give them some hollow flag challenge at the U.N. and then get mad at them for making things that felt like Epcot costume castoffs? Geez, make up your mind, judges!

Colors of the World / Spice up your life! Or pose for it, damnit!

As for the designs, these are dresses we've seen before and far better

AUSTIN

This draped, chiffon with knotting detail became one of Austin's signatures. This ain't it.

MONDO

He did a very similar silhouette for that polka dot number Michael Kors and Nina Garcia hated but Heidi promised (and delivered!) to wear. That was better.

In this week's awarding of the prize, I'ma do something a little controversial and dole it out based not on the clothes on the runway but the clothes on their backs.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I gasped and grabbed my sister when we saw her in the audience stealing every shot she snuck into. This B always looks good and in my fantasy life we're BFF's throwing back brews in dive bar. Maybe she's not wearing Elie Saab in that fantasy.

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Been killin' it all awards season long. And enough of 'she know how to dress for her shape'. B know how to dress! And I love a lady loyal to a designer.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Love her or hate her (and God knows folks hate), Gwyn knows how to work a sleek look. This Tom Ford capsule style sheath and cape feels forward in a way that no Marchesa can.

The BAD

The Oscars this year were so neutral that something as simple as body placement wins a normal best on the worst

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Weirdo.

The UGLY

Melissa Leo in Reem Acra

Boy this was yuk. When she got up to present I shouted "a shirtdress? Really, girl?" The full view ain't much better. In her defense ML was never known for her style.

While Raf's stark, modern minimalism would definitely be interesting to see play out at a house long known for over the top ruffles and trim, my heart is still pining for Gaultier. He truly gets the the drama and artistic femininity of the brand and would create confections women would swoon over

Ok, so over the weekend, Mr Taurus and I started our apartment hunt. We're looking to move to Park Slope. The first spot we checked out, the guy showing us the place was all laisez faire and evasive. I was asking questions and he was like "yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course. You want? You want?"

Then I propose the all important "How's the pests?" issue. He blew it off with a wave of the hand blatantly ignoring the baby roach crawling on the wall that perhaps was the catalyst for my question to begin with.

Umm, where there's baby, there be nest nearby. And not our rent checks. Peace!

Ooh the battle of the queens grew electric this week when the challenge became "BROADWAY"!

And what a fabulously muddled challenge at hand. So the character the designers are creating for is rich and showy but she should look like she stole items from a flea market?

Thanks "Godspell" actress we never saw again for that very explicit explanation

(Ooh, girl, did no one tell you that you were gonna be on TV? The stage is forgiving.)

Let's see what our little costumer elves banged out in response

Workin'....

Workin' it!

AUSTIN

Here's why Austin is an 'All Star' in the land of reality television: when this came out I was like 'oh he is done for!' but somehow this take on one of Henry the 8ths lesser wives totally played out almost nailing him a win? What?

(Dumbfounded)

MONDO

Was there a part of this week's instruction I missed? Where did it say make a direct historical reference to a lady of royalty, because if this ain't some Catherine the Great ish, I'll be a monkey's uncle! And that Eraserhead hair? Ooh child.

Hey, at least we managed to go the whole episode without jazz hands....

Oh....

Well despite that offense I'm giving it to Mondo, cuz in my fantasy league, nerd alert, battle royale between former queens, Catherine could whoop on Marie Antoinette any old day. Take that queen!

Friday, February 17, 2012

With the New York Fall 2012 runways ablaze with fur, obviously this ugly trend is not going anywhere. So how does one ethically bridge the gap between heart and sleeve?

Answer: vintage. A fur that already exists causes no further damage and without people adopting old furs into their wardrobe, add to overstuffed landfills. It's the perfect green solution to an otherwise deadly fad.

And what perfect timing since the 96th and Broadway Housing Works is hosting a recycled and vintage fur event tomorrow

So now not only does a second hand fur benefit the animals you've spared the knife, but all $$ spent goes to people living with AIDS. Charity squared!